Chapter 22- Victory.
"Aww hell no, there ain't gonna be nobody sacrificing themselves on our watch". Lennox looked away from the Autobots as he heard the exclamation from his sergeant and he met Epps' determined gaze with his own, "I'm with you there buddy. Get over there, get on that radio and get some planes in the air. We need some more firepower if we're gonna go after the big bad, which we are as we are not leaving anyone behind. While you're doing that, I'm off to give out some robot pep talk". Epps grinned at his captain, before walking back to the rest of the team, ready to convince them by any means necessary that there was just a little bit more ass kicking to be done before everyone, human or not, could relax.
Lennox watched as Epps rejoined the rest of the team, and took a deep breath as he gazed up at the sombre faces of the Autobots that were ranged around him. Their distant expressions reminded him of how he and his team had looked after their encounter with Scorponok in the desert and as he recalled the sorrow and the guilt they had all felt after the death of Figueroa, Lennox knew he would do all that he could to prevent anyone, human or 'bot, from feeling the same. "Excuse me guys, I need you all to listen to me for just a second". Mikaela and Bumblebee looked over at him first, and having seen how happy the two of them usually were, the sorrow in their eyes and optics only hardened his resolve to make this work; as did his promise to himself to make sure the world knew just how much these guys had helped them with the fight and what they'd gone through in the process. Clearing his throat, Lennox began to speak, "You can't let Optimus sacrifice himself. Mainly because I can see how much even just the thought of it is hurting you, but has anyone actually thought of what will happen when he does the deed. Yes the Cube, All-Spark, whatever the hell you wanna call it will be gone but so will the one thing that is currently protecting the boy who has possession of it. You think Sam is suddenly going to be fine and dandy because its gone?. No, he's going to be alone and faced with a pissed off Decepticon who's just been deprived of the one thing he's been after since God only knows when, so I'm pretty sure he's not going to want to sit down for a chat over tea and biscuits. He's gonna take Sam out as quickly as he can, without even stopping to think about it.
"And what makes you think Megatron will stop there. You guys will be without a leader and he knows more than half of you are injured, whats to stop him from calling down his pals from back home and taking you guys out when you're not ready for it, and taking us out too, which will mean Optimus's sacrifice would have been for nothing. Plus no one else is getting hurt or left behind on my watch. We came into the city as a team, we're leaving it as a team. All of us".
As Lennox's words sank in, Bumblebee felt a flutter of hope in his spark; and when he turned to look at Ironhide, Bee was relieved to see that the dullness had begun to leave 'Hides optics. 'Thank Primus for that, I don't ever want to see 'Hide look that down again', Bee thought quietly to himself. As he continued to think over Lennox's words, Bee felt Mikaela moving, and he chirped at her softly as she looked up at him, "Looks like Optimus and Sam may be okay after all beautiful". Mikaela looked back at Bee and nodded firmly, "They have to be big guy, cos as Will's just pointed out, we are screwed if this doesn't work, and I don't want my best friend to be robot food, or for anything else to happen to you". As he heard the wobble in her voice, Bee softly cradled her in his hand and rested her back against his chest, the gentle vibrations of his soft reassuring chirps easing Mikaelas threatening tears.
Ironhide had watched Bee and Mikaelas exchange and at that point he knew they had to try to fight however they could. He shared a quick nod with Ratchet before looking down at the young soldier who was making a very good impression on the weapons specialist, "It seems you have thought about the problem thoroughly and for that we all grateful, and we are also grateful that you still wish to help us.
"However as you can see, myself and Bumblebee are still injured, as is Jazz. It is unfair to ask Ratchet to try to fight Megatron, and most likely Starscream too, alone. What I need to know soldier, is whether or not you will be able to help us with some support, as without that I refuse to allow any more hurt come to my family, much as it would pain us to lose Optimus, and Sam also". Lennox looked up at the transformed Topkick, who's determination to keep the others safe reminded him of his own feelings towards his team, "Let me check, see how we're doing". He glanced across at Epps who gave him the thumbs up, "We're good Cap, we have air support circling and ready when needed". Lennox looked back at the weapons specialist, and found himself meeting Ironhides determined smile with one of his own, as Ironhide looked at Ratchet and Bumblebee, "We need to think of a plan to kick some Decepticon aft and quick".
oOoOo
Sam met Optimus's gaze as he slowly pulled himself to his feet, and Sam could see the pained look in his optics as he turned to face Megatron, "Its you and me now Megatron". Megatron also got to his feet, and Sam felt his stomach plummet as he saw how much easier the Decepticon made the same task look as he growled in a low voice, "No its just me Prime". Sam dived for cover as Megatron launched himself at Optimus, and found himself falling into a chasm in the street that had been caused by Optimus's heavy landing after his fall. As he crawled through the wreckage of broken pipes, and dodged sparking electric cables, Sam looked up and saw Megatron glaring at the Autobot leader, the expression on his metal features leaving Sam in no doubt of the Decepticons intentions. Sam looked up at Optimus who was looking back at Megatron with an expression that seemed disappointed as he spoke to the Decepticon leader in a voice that was heavy with grief, "At the end of this day, one shall stand and one shall fall". Megatron laughed and once again the sound made Sam's blood run cold, "You still fight for the weak Prime, that's why you will never triumph. You will always lose". Sam watched as the two giant robots battled each other, and he winced as he heard the clang of metal on metal, before wishing there was something more he could do to help.
A sudden roar of jet engines caused both Sam and Megatron to look up and Sam heard the Decepticon leader roar furiously, "Starscream. Get up there and stop them, now". Sam heard the sounds of Starscream transforming and watched as he flew up towards the F22's that were circling overhead, and felt his spirits lift as he watched Starscream dodge the fire from the military's jets, unable to get any shots back in return. However this seemed only to infuriate the Decepticon leader even more and he unleashed a series of blows that knocked Optimus to the ground, which then allowed Megatron to turn his attention to Sam, "GIVE ME THE CUBE NOW. IT IS MINE FLESHING". Sam cowered at the roar of Megatrons voice, and as he saw the deep red glow of the Decepticons optics fixed upon him, Sam knew he was in trouble. Clutching the cube to his chest, he scrambled along the trench as best he could, trying to ignore the sound of Megatrons footsteps closing in on him. Finally managing to climb out of the trench, Sam glanced back at the still fallen figure of Optimus and found himself slowing, "Come on Optimus you can do this. You have to get up". However his momentary pause gave Megatron the time he needed to reach the small insect that had caused him so many problems and the Decepticon leader reached out to the boy with a clawed hand, the all important cube just within his reach, and with Prime down he was certain he'd be able to take the boy out too; and he felt a triumphant smile cross his face as he spoke to a trembling Sam, "Where is your courage now? I told you earlier boy, the Cube is mine and I will have it".
oOoOo
"Oh no you won't Megatron. The Cube is staying with us". Megatron turned, his metal features twisted in fury as he saw Optimus being helped to his feet by Ironhide and Ratchet, his voice a low growl as he called out, "How will you be able to stop me from crushing the boy like the insect that he is when you cannot even stand Prime". From her spot by Bumblebees legs, Mikaela looked over to where her best friend was almost pinned to the wall by Megatrons clawed hand. "Bee, look". Bumblebee looked over towards where Mikaela was indicating, and he felt his spark jump furiously as he saw Sam, the anger radiating from his optics as he glared at the Decepticon, 'You are not going to hurt Sam the way you hurt me Megatron', Bee thought to himself, unaware that his whole frame was shaking with anger, until he heard Mikaelas soft intake of breath, and he turned to look at her, his optics brightening slightly as he focused on her calming presence, "Sorry beautiful... I didn't mean to scare you". Mikaela looked up at Bee, "You didn't. Believe me I am just as pissed as you are that the giant bag of bolts thinks he can pick on my best friend".
Megatron looked over at the young Autobot scout, and at the young human female he was with, his optics narrowing with disgust, "So I see another one of you has adopted a human insect as your pet, it is disgusting the way you want to be with them". Bumblebee felt the fury burn through his circuits, and chirping a hurried warning to Mikaela as his arm transformed, fired a blast at Megatron from his cannon, "I owe you that Megatron". The Decepticon leader felt the blast hit him and it was enough to knock him off-balance, which allowed Sam to escape. Megatron turned and looked at Bumblebee, who despite his injuries was glaring back at him defiantly, "I should have finished you when I had the chance. I will not be so lenient this time". Bee knew he could be in trouble as the Decepticon headed towards him, but he was ready to go down fighting if he had to. Shooting a look over at Mikaela who was hidden behind the truck, Bee's optics softened as he met her worried look, "Don't worry beautiful. I know what I'm doing but you must help Sam, and please stay safe".
"You too big guy. Love you". Bee chirped a soft reply, and as he watched Mikaela slip down to join Sam, his attention quickly flicked back to the oncoming Megatron, who he hit with another plasma blast, which Megatron laughed off, "Is that the best you have? It will be so much easier to wipe you out this time, as Starscream has already done half the job for me". Bee refused to allow the fear that was creeping into his spark to take hold the nearer Megatron got to him, focusing instead on the anger he felt towards him for wanting to hurt Sam, as he unleashed a hail of smaller missiles at the Decepticon, who howled in fury and launched himself at Bumblebee. However as he neared Bumblebee his optics caught sight of the boy and the girl running across the street, the boy still clutching the cube. Stopping just in front of the young scout, Megatron laughed and Bee suddenly felt his spark sink as he saw what the Decepticon leader was looking at with such a gleeful expression. Meeting Bumblebees blue optics with his own maliciously glowing ones, Megatron reached out a clawed hand and ran a finger down Bee's cheek; Bee fighting the urge to cry out in pain as he felt the jagged tip dig in. Megatron however felt the shudder that ran though Bee's body, and chuckled, "Oh this will be fun. I don't even have to lay another claw on you to injure that delicate spark of yours. All I have to do is hurt the pretty little insect and the boy". Bee gazed up Megatron, his spark pounding before replying quietly but forcefully through his damaged vocaliser, ignoring the pain it caused to do so, "No you won't".
"No you won't". Mikaela looked at the Decepticon who was crouched over her Bumblebee, her eyes flashing angrily as Megatron looked at her dismissively, "As if you will be able to stop me fleshling". Mikaela looked back at the Decepticon, her pounding heart the only indicator of how afraid she felt, "Maybe I can't but they can". She screamed an order to the hidden team of soldiers who let loose a volley of gunfire at Megatron, who fell under the onslaught of the sabot tipped rounds. Sam saw his chance to end the Decepticon once and for all, and sprinted across the street, before plunging the Cube into the fallen Decepticons chest, ignoring the cries from Optimus as he did so. Meeting Megatrons optics one last time, watching the Decepticon convulsed as the raw energon poured through him, tendrils of energy crackling as they wrapped round his body, Sam smiled triumphantly from where he'd been thrown to the ground by the cubes reaction to Megatrons spark, "Not bad for a puny insect, am I?". Unable to answer as he shuddered one last time, Megatrons optics faded to black as the cube finally disintegrated in his chest, and from somewhere up above a roar of dismay was heard and everyone looked up to see Starscream heading away from the city, climbing high up into the sky where the humans were unable to follow him.
Sam slowly stood up and moved away from Megatrons silent form and was almost knocked off his feet by Mikaela who clutched him tight in a hug. "Okay 'Kaela, can't breathe. Crushing my already probably broken ribs". Mikaela released Sam, "Sorry, but for a little while there I thought I'd lost you".
"Pffft giant robots, saving the world, all in a days work really". Mikaela looked back at Sam, and smiled softly as she looped her arm around his waist, supporting him as they stumbled over the wreckage in the suddenly silent city, to where the Autobots were stood looking at Sam, their optics glowing with what Mikaela could only define as pride at his actions. However as she looked over at Bumblebee, Mikaela felt her heart swell as she saw the look of love and pride he directed just at her through his bright blue optics, and she blushed as she left Sams side to rejoin Bee, who chirped at her softly as he held out a hand for her, whispering to her quietly as she clambered up to her spot on his shoulder, "You were amazing beautiful". Mikaela looked at Bee, and traced a gentle finger over the gouge Megatron had left on Bee's faceplates, fighting back sudden tears as she felt his shudder, "I was amazing? You were the one who stood up to the guy who almost killed you, that takes real bravery Bee. I am so proud of you, and of Sam. In the grand scheme of things I didn't really do much at all". Bee shook his head, "You did more than you know beautiful, you gave my spark a reason to keep fighting, and you saved me".As Mikaela looked at Bee through sudden tear filled eyes, before burying her head into the warmth of his shoulder, Bee knew that there was no way he could leave her, or Sam for that matter, if Optimus decided to return to Cybertron now the cube was gone. All that was important to Bumblebee was now right here on earth, in the form of the two humans who had saved him just as much as he had promised to save them.
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A/N: Hey guys ty for the birthday wishes ;) Still didn't get my own Bee, but did get lots 'Bee-related' goodies, including an EPIC Bumblebee birthday card from my bestie xx Anyway new chapter time, its a bit shorter than the last one and once again I've jigged around the battle scenes and I had to include Lennox's pep talk at the start as he pretty much covers my major plot hole gripe, what would have happened if Sam had of nailed Optimus with the All-Spark? Megatron would have given up easily? No I don't think so! Anyway hope you all like it and pleeeeeeeeeease keep reviewing as I love reading what you think... :) xxxx